Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1887-04-28
For the Ellsw orth American.
Bravely Won.

DldFely VOu'
" Then must We really leave the dear. old
place" The speaker was a young girl, tall
I and Slight. with a sweet sad face; the
scene wide old-fashioned kitchen, in an
old New England farmhouse. Gathered
around the table were a sorrowful family.
Mr.. and Mr.. Moore and their daughter,
I.aur. the young girl spoken of above,
and their fo>tcr-Son, young man not
above twcnty-onr years Of age, who stood
by hi~ fathers chair. II would seem that
some deep calamity was threatening, and
it was indeed So When MIR Moore had
first married and settled on his fathers
farm it was encumbercd by mortgage :;
hut hc SCI to work hopefully 70 clear il.
yet after struggling wears with daily IN
cr-a>in. debts. he now found himself
obliged to quit the home OF his childhood,
for tomorrow the farm was to hc sold to
meet the demands Of importunatr crcdi-
tors Cheer w father" said his foster
son Philip Arlington, there are bright
days in store for u~ yet. We Will haY"
enough money left tn take Us West. where,
in a new country we can begin life afrc~h
A. soon a> things are settled here wc will
start The next morning dawncd and he
fore the >uu had set the dear, old home
had passed into the hands OF strangers.
The family badc fearful farewell TO all
the OLD associations and then started on
their iaurneY.
They arrived At the little village adj"in-
in- lhr tract Of land Mr., Moore had taken.
about dusk nf stormy April day He and
Philip at once set about building a new
home IT. completion was hailed with
JOY and the family at once went to keeping
house. Though born and bred in the east,
Laura Moore took very readily to the
hunt with considerable skill. Philip Ar
lugton, although lie had for many years
filed a brothers place to Laura. felt far
more than a brothers love for her; but
she met all his advances with laughter and
turned hi~ protr~tation> Of love into ridi-
Guile The one that marric> me" She would
say must be- very brave and do some
great decd for my sake: and You would
make nice hero, now wouldn't you:"
looking at him and laughing a. he stood
in hi working clothes seeming cnbarras ~cd
and ont Of place But for all this, Laura
had weak spot in her heart for him
f b, NJnllli aaL r.,
ledge even to herself. About this time
came ruInor- Of dreadful raids made by
the Sioux Indians, on outlying and isolated
ranches.
It wa> a bright, warm day in September
and the men, all tired and hungry from
their mornings work, had come in to a
bouutifully spread dinner table. When
about half through the meal Mr.. Moore
looked up and addressing his son. ex-
4 claimed I'm be hanged, Philip, my
bow, if didn't forget to give that letter
to Johnson. when he went into the settle
mcnt this morning. and can't spare one
of the men either today or tomorrow
and the letter ought to 20 this week" \
worried look crossed his face, We'll, il
can't be helped, | suppose" Laura heard
her fathers words, and sudden resolu-
ton took shape in her mind; but she said
| nothing and the men went out again to
their toll leaving the mother and daughter
to their household cares. After the work
was done and everything neat and tidy
Laura sought her room and soon reap
pearcd equipped for ride. Her mother
| looked up. and noting the change in her
appearance said, why, Laura, child
where are you going?" Laura put on q
bold front and replied why, father sale
something about wanting a letter mailed
and as feel like having good gallop,
thought ! might as well carry it over fol
him" You, a defenceless girl, take {
lonely ride of ten miles over country in
tested with Indians Indeed you won't
Besides the creek between here and the
settlement is swollen almost to river anC
NAV run too strong for you to find ford
ing place"
But Laura was obstinate and did wha
no well behaved miss of the nineteenth
century should have done-she fatty dis
obeved her mother. When she had sad
died her pony and rode up to the door K
make her adieus she said 1t will TAX
quite smart Indian to catch Dandy ant
me, when we get on the broad prairie witt
the smooth ground beneath our feet" Blu
| her mother shook her head and saw he
depart with a heavy heart
The sun shone pleasantly and the air ha'
lust enough frost in it to make the rid
exhilerating. Both horse and rider seeme'
to gather new vigor as they shot over tn
ground. leaving miles of soft undulatin:
prairie behind them. Laura hummed t
herself merry song of gladness The
proceeded thus till the first huts an
shanties of the settlement appeared Il
view. She at once sought the post offic
and mailed the important letter; the
meeting few acquaintances, she stoppe
and chatted awhile. When at last pre-
paxng to turn her horses head homeward
the sun was but two hours high. She Sc
out. however, and in good spirits, thinking
not of danger.
When third of the distance toward
home had been traversed, Laura happene
to turn half round in the saddle, and look
ing away to the west, espied dozen blac
specks on the horizon. She did not at frs
think of fear. and drew rein to watc